Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Hi all.There are just so many things going on around here that quite honestly I don't know where to start. I won't try to play catch-up, because BORING, but here are a few tid-bits.Last week I had the chance to visit Fiddler's Green, the home of Texas A&M's Parsons Mounted Cavalry.

The Parsons Mounted Cavalry- or the Cav, or PMC, as most Ags call it- is the mounted military organization within the Corps of Cadets. They are the men and women on horseback and the chosen crew to fire the cannon (Spirit of '02) after each Aggie score at Kyle Field. The mounted outfit represents tradition, heritage, and hard work.As noted on the their Facebook page, the PMC is actually a "dynamic, hands-on leadership laboratory. The interactions of horses and riders, travel and public appearances, horse husbandry and facilities and equipment maintenance provide cadets with important life experiences and lessons in responsibility."On the afternoon of our visit, the cadets were preparing to ride in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo parade the following morning. It was incredibly busy on The Green!

Nothing is left to chance. Each rider practiced loading their horse onto the trailer (this one happens to hold 28 horses!)There is much thought given to which trailer will transport which horses and mules. Some of them don't necessarily play well with others in confined spaces.Kind of like kids on a school bus.

Everyone was getting groomed and looking stellar.

All of the cadets in white t-shirts are hopefuls for next year's PMC. They go through a rigorous training and try-out process.

The Spirit of '02 was primed and ready! Each cadet is trained to eloquently explain their specific job in PMC. It's really incredible how much knowledge they have and history they know!

It was a beautiful afternoon!Other than that, there has been work and the farm and my awesome Book Club Group (For the Love!)Oh and of course,I was supervising some wood chopping. As you would likely suspect, I had been doing most of it myself, but JT wanted a turn...